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Providing straightforward information pertaining to drugs, drug use & drug policy. The Grey Pages promotes drug-related literacy and advocates a system of viable and tolerant drug policies. This is my personal collection of commentaries, essays, tid-bits, and other such writings on everything ranging from drug use, drug policy and drug-myths, to drug-science, addiction, human behavior, and the workings of the human brain. I started this blog with a particular focus on opioids, and over the past year have found my interest gravitate toward the intriguing, ever-changing world of designer intoxicants (i.e. "research chemicals" or "designer drugs").

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Cocaine: Drug Information

Basic

Cocaine is a psychostimulant drug of the tropane family, used for both its psychoactive and its topical anaesthetic properties. It is a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from coca leaf (leaf of the coca bush), which is widely grown (both naturally and commercially) in the mountainous climates of South America.

Mode of Action

Cocaine is a sympathomimetic psychostimulant. It produces its effects by increasing synaptic concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin; in large part via inhibition of monoamine transporters. Its anaesthetic effect is due to its sodium channel blocking properties.

Appearance

On the illicit market, cocaine is available in various forms. Pure cocaine itself is typically a hydrochloride based salt (cocaine hydrochloride), a fine, white, flaky, crystalline powder. Street cocaine is rarely available in pure form, and may occur as the following:

Regular Powder - A semi-diluted cocaine hydrochloride powder. The powder is often taken by the intranasal route (snorted); dissolved in water and injected; or to a lesser extent smoked, but with limited success, as the hydrochloride powder only vaporizes at the high temp of 197 celsius and is largely destroyed at this temperature. Cocaine hydrochloride has been taken orally in capsule or parachute form, or applied to the genitals (tip of the penis or trans-vaginally) for surface absorbtion. Diluting agents often present in powder cocaine include baking soda, sugars, and local anaesthetics, the latter of which help enhance the products numbing properties and give the illusion of greater purity.

Freebase - The perfectly pure "base" form of cocaine, in which the compound is not incorporated into any salt (i.e. hydrochloride). Cocaine base may appear as a chunky, white to off white solid (rock or powder) with a shiny or pearly appearance. It is virtually insoluble in water, and poorly absorbed by mucous membranes, therefore it is most often smoked.

Crack - Crack cocaine is a crude form of cocaine base, most often smoked. It has a higher purity than cocaine powder but less so than freebase - crack is sometimes referred to as "dirty base". Crack is produced via neutralization of cocaine hydrochloride in the presence of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water, when heated. The process is so simple that many users produce their own. The final product is an off white solid, usually with a waxy or soap-like quality (in fact, bar soap has frequently been sold as crack); consisting of a mixture of cocaine base, sodium carbonate, water and other impurities. Its name is rooted in the fact that it makes a distinct crackling sound when heated and smoked.

Route of Administration

Cocaine is short acting drug. Effects generally last 15 to 30 minutes (or longer), depending on the route of administration.

Oral - Orally administered cocaine takes effect after 30-40 minutes and peaks after an hour. Oral use provides the longest duration of effects, but only a portion of an oral dose is absorbed systemically.

Intranasal - Snorted cocaine takes effect relatively quickly; about 5 to 10 minutes is common. About 30-60% of a given dose is absorbed by this route; higher doses and higher concentration lead to better absorbtion. Effects peak aft around 15 minutes and last 30-45 minutes.

Inhalation: Smoking cocaine is the fastest way to get the drug to the brain. It offers a high bioavailability as well (~70%). Effects are felt in seconds, and peak subjective effects have been reported after 1-2 minutes of inhalation - the result is intense and shortlived, lasting only 10-15 minutes. Smoked cocaine, espcially freebase, is believed to be cardiotoxic.

Trans-Tissue Absorbtion: Cocaine may be applied to one of a number of body surfaces for absorbtion. It is often taken this way for its local anaesthetic properties. Users have applied cocaine to the genitals (tip of the penis or vaginally), or to the gums, inner cheek or tounge. Some who apply the drug to the genitals do so to enhance or otherwise affect sexual intercourse and orgasm.

Adverse effects of chronic use include tolerance, psychological dependence, chemical imbalance, loss of appetite, and potential for precipitation of underlying psychotic disorders. Being known to potentiate the mesolimbic dopamine pathways, similar to other rewarding and reinforcing drugs, heavy cocaine use is often associated with addiction. On the other hand, cocaine does not produce the level of physical dependence associated with other drugs such as narcotics and sedative-hypnotics. Cocaine withdrawal is for the most part psychological in nature, and characterized by depression, cravings for cocaine, insatiable appetite, fatigue, amotivation, and oversleeping.

The limbic system may take some time to restore itself, leading to a protracted state of anhedonia (i.e. an inability to experience pleasure), a form of post acute withdrawal syndrome which is common particularly with psychodependence (i.e. "addiction").